Recently I went to a memorial service near St. Mary’s for my Uncle Stewart. He turned 100 years old last September. We gathered around the tombstone in the rain and talked about what he meant to everyone. This was my first time meeting this side of my family. I was the first Chapple to be there other than my Aunt Joy whose name is together with her husband Stewart now. Uncle Stew was lucky enough to have two wonderful wives in his life. I got to meet Cathy last summer.
I was struck by the stories of Uncle Stew’s life as it had great similarity to my Dads. They were 2nd cousins and had both experienced the farm. Growing up Uncle Stew would climb up onto the barn roof or indeed climb the windmill & do handstands. My Dad ditto for the windmill and anything else he could climb. He climbed the outside walls of the CNE coliseum to get tennis balls and throw them down. Handstands were of course included. Both were builders of model airplanes. Both learned to fly as adults, Uncle Stew at a young age while Dad was in his 60’s. Both were creative with building or creating things. My Aunt Joy was the oldest with 4 younger brothers. My Dad was closest to her in age so I am sure they would play together and influence each other.
I have an amazing picture of my Aunt and Uncle in a 3 wheeled vehicle he had built! I found out my uncle was the oldest living person who had worked for Air Canada. There was a family farm in this area that had been worked for 5 generations. It was only recently sold to a young family who had similar farming practises to them. I was thinking how without the influence of electronics especially the computer, people were more physically fit, adventurous, and creative.
Meeting mutual cousins of my Uncle was pretty amazing as well. I was welcomed into their extended families. This included a three month old baby girl. Hearing stories unfold on how everyone had been touched by my Uncle was wonderful to hear. He influenced so many people’s lives with a kindness, gentleness and a great sense of humour. He had many physical challenges in his life. I never knew about these. He never let them slow him down.
Photo albums were there to view dating back to the 1800’s. In our digital world we sometimes forget these. Seeing pictures on a black background held by glued corners and writing in silver pencil to mark each event was a treasure to hold. Don’t get me wrong. I do love digital; however nostalgia for these older albums and their history was magical and brought so many childhood memories back to me. The expense of film prohibited taking lots of pictures. The ones you did take were treasured.
I gave a small speech while there on my memories of my Uncle. Uncle Stew had reminded me last summer how my younger cousin Pat & I in our teens had climbed out her bedroom window and sat on the roof of their townhouse. It is good to share memories and to be reminded of events we may have forgotten. They form the weave of who we are. They bring people together who have never met before, and yet they are familiar and family. It was a side I had heard about but never met. I am grateful to my young cousin Pat who connected me to her family for this event. A part of her father now rests in Ontario beside his first wife. The rest blows through the mountains in BC near where his current wife lives. It seems fitting somehow that a dreamer, a builder and a pilot is both grounded and flying free!
Treasure your family and create your memories. Be that person who is memorable, kind, creative, humorous and adventurous in mind & spirit. We all have it in us to be our very best in spite of any limitations we may have.